SaberFang

Man, this makes me angry. The Saints got this guy as a bloody DFA! Agh!

Robbo blatantly intimated on 360 tonight that Essendon tanked the Lions match to ensure pick 1 was theirs. Of course, the AFL will do nothing. A notoriously dirty club caught for drug cheating will have no sanctions, despite now tanking. As soon as their players were banned, they banked on the wooden spoon and pick 1 as the key marketing coup that would rally supporters for 2017 after a write-off 2016. They knew players wouldn't be scarred from losing games because, "it was all WADA's fault we didn't have players!" and systematically used media mouthpieces to sell that message to supporters and fans. They also weren't as transparent as Melbourne at tanking, or as harmful to players; they strategically lost that game in the coaches box with dumbfounding inaction rather than questionable action as we did by playing players in the wrong positions. They didn't tag Daniel Rich, despite how easily he crumbles under a tag, and despite the fact that every other coach in the AFL used this tactic against Brisbane in 2016. They threw that game to Brisbane for a very specific reason. And it all has to do with Academy clubs who have a draft-breaking attraction to pick 1: they don't have to use pick 1 on their top 2-3 pick Academy players because no other team can nominate/bid on a player before pick 1. Essentially, if an Academy club gets their hands on pick 1, they get to "double dip" on the best players in the draft under the new system -- they choose the best player in the open draft with pick 1, then the best player in their Academy with whatever scraps of late first-round picks remain. Think of it this way: if Sydney had traded for pick 1 in the 2014 draft, they could have taken Petracca, Brayshaw or McCartin with pick 1, then taken Heeney with second round pick dregs. Clubs paid close attention to what we did with GWS and will fully exploit it this year to maximum effect. Naturally, Essendon are the most experienced cheats in the league, and will take full advantage of this situation.

Parish was always going to run out the year better. He's been in the system for years being prepared to be a top 3 or 4 pick. Oliver came out of nowhere and simply didn't have the years of guided preparation that Parish had. I think the club's being responsible with him after they ran Brayshaw into a hole last year. Doesn't mean I wouldn't love Oliver in the team though, we desperately miss the player he can be.

Not likely; they get threatened with having their media accreditations cancelled. Who wants to lose out on free attendances for the whole season?

Because every other team was starved of talent for year after year, solely to prop up two expansion clubs? Cause and effect: the AFL is directly responsible for Hawthorn's incomparable dominance and every other team's inability to match them (oh, except Sydney, who are gifted top 2 players in the draft every year thanks to the Academy).

They pretty obviously tanked last season too. It gives me the shits. Don't forget their mysterious resting of players for the Fremantle match this year, either.

If it were Joe Daniher firing, there'd be no bullet holes on the house, period.

Essendon are tanking, they won't even try to win a winnable game from here.

Yeah but mate if you want to compare us to the Saints at Etihad, we can't rely on winning at the MCG because we sell 2 games a year to the NT and struggle to win even them. Our record at basically every other ground is deplorable, probably 2 wins or less across the last 6 or 7 years. The stranglehold the Saints and Bulldogs have on Etihad baffles me but it's hard to deny the correlation.

What a surprise. Another complete basketcase of a club well and truly overtakes us. 2 games clear, and entirely due to double wins against us. Add our pathetic loss to Essendon, and heartbreakers against West Coast & North Melbourne and you just have to wonder what might have been in 2016 if our coaching and on-field leadership weren't so questionable. Frankly, we are miles off it. Roos has had 3 years and the improvement has been incremental at best; behind the Saints & Carlton and questionably similar to Richmond and the injury-riddled Collingwood.

So the Saints are going to beat the Bulldogs, but Paul Roos comes out constantly saying that we are on the same level as the Saints. Despite the fact that Paul Roos has been incapable of beating this team in his entire tenure, and we couldn't even beat the Bulldogs seconds in the VFL. Now looking like two wins behind the Saints, too. Sad.

66 inside 50's to 37. That is an absolute indictment on our coaches, our playing list, the entire team. [censored] disgraceful.

LEARN TO [censored] KICK. 8.12 to 10.6

I'm done.

[censored] OFF UMPIRES YOU [censored] [censored]! Knew this would [censored] happen! Can't let the [censored] Eagles lose on their home deck, can we!? [censored] off.

I'm fully expecting to lose here, but I'm at least grateful we haven't been blown off the park by 100 points like the Melbourne of old (and, frankly, many other Victorian teams who've come to Domain this year).

Thankfully Roos spent those two years instilling defensive habits into our list... it's really paid off.

Sounds like his manager is drastically overselling his client.

I'm so conflicted. North lose and it's hilarious but Pies win and they jump us on the ladder. Agh!

A comedy of errors from North. I hate both teams but seeing Scott's head explode with a loss (after a halftime lead of 39 points) would be the funniest loss all year.

Also, Cloke -- LOL.

Hear, hear.

Haha Howe you absolute spud! Hope the Pies enjoy him!

I guess all that "banging the door down at Casey" doesn't apply if you're besties with the coach.